How has your riding gear evolved

[ajlog]

Very 1st helmet I had at 16 for my DT50 was my dads old plain red Bieffe customised with stripes made from insulation tape and some Benetton stickers, accompanied by jeans, steel toecap boots and coat / jacket appropriate for the weather that day.



After passing my test and getting a ‘proper’ bike I upgraded to some proper kit with Arai Giga helmet Frank Thomas Defender leather jacket and trousers, Alpinestar boots and some lovely Kushitani gloves I found in the bargain basket at M&Ps.

Today it’s Bell Moto 3 lid, Richa textile jacket and jeans, Dainese casual style boots and some Lee Parks gloves.
I think these days the biggest change has been the options for under layers, various heated or technical base layers have enabled my to keep using the same outerware for a wide variety of conditions. Plus my Knox armoured base layer allows the use of more casual outerwear.

[Taipan]

I bought a less bikey looking bike jacket today...


Frank Thomas City Casual Waterproof Motorcycle/Scooter Jacket CE Armour

This jacket has turned out to be one of the best I've owned.Its warm and has a nice high neck and so far has been waterproof, even during some horrendous downpours. This is even more surprising as I#m currently on a bike with an upright riding position which normally suits a short jacket as longer ones ruffle up and collect water, but this has still remained dry for me. Plus of focurse its a nice looking jacket compared to a bike styl eone, so I'm happy to wear it when popping out in my lunchbreak.

[wull]

I like that, looks very smart.

[Rockburner]

I like that, looks very smart.

It looks like a cagoul with the hood ripped off.

[wull]

I like that, looks very smart.

It looks like a cagoul with the hood ripped off.

Each to their own

[Bustaspoke]

The other month I bought a jacket that until recent Summer's I never thought I would need in the UK a fully vented Rev It Tornado jacket.
https://www.ghostbikes.com/26014-rev-it ... acket.html
It has a detatchable inner liner & I've been using it on local rides to see how it handles cooler temps,so far so good.Lets see how well it works when we get another hot spell

[Taipan]

In summer i never used to bother with a jacket at all on really hot days. Until I discovered mesh jackets.

[v8-powered]

I like that, looks very smart.

It looks like a cagoul with the hood ripped off.

Scooter boi, innit.....

[Taipan]

It's the same sort of thing as my Steve McQueen Barbour or any time of high collared wax jacket, just without the top pockets, which is what I wanted. The inner side of the colour is corduroy and maybe it looks different with the collar open? Anyway, to each their own, but I like the style of it over a bikers coat for sure.

[Taipan]

I bought a less bikey looking bike jacket today...


Frank Thomas City Casual Waterproof Motorcycle/Scooter Jacket CE Armour

This jacket has turned out to be one of the best I've owned.Its warm and has a nice high neck and so far has been waterproof, even during some horrendous downpours. This is even more surprising as I#m currently on a bike with an upright riding position which normally suits a short jacket as longer ones ruffle up and collect water, but this has still remained dry for me. Plus of focurse its a nice looking jacket compared to a bike styl eone, so I'm happy to wear it when popping out in my lunchbreak.

z
Riding abike with zilch weather protection at 70+ mph into torrential rain saw it fail spectacularly today. I think the best winter coat I can get for the Hyper is another sh300!

[Rockburner]

I bought a less bikey looking bike jacket today...


Frank Thomas City Casual Waterproof Motorcycle/Scooter Jacket CE Armour

This jacket has turned out to be one of the best I've owned.Its warm and has a nice high neck and so far has been waterproof, even during some horrendous downpours. This is even more surprising as I#m currently on a bike with an upright riding position which normally suits a short jacket as longer ones ruffle up and collect water, but this has still remained dry for me. Plus of focurse its a nice looking jacket compared to a bike styl eone, so I'm happy to wear it when popping out in my lunchbreak.

z
Riding abike with zilch weather protection at 70+ mph into torrential rain saw it fail spectacularly today. I think the best winter coat I can get for the Hyper is another sh300!

Yup, naked bikes soon betray a "waterproof" jacket.

[Horse]

Riding abike with zilch weather protection at 70+ mph into torrential rain saw it fail spectacularly today.

Where did it get in?

[Taipan]

Riding abike with zilch weather protection at 70+ mph into torrential rain saw it fail spectacularly today.

Where did it get in?

Front overflap/zip

[Horse]

Riding abike with zilch weather protection at 70+ mph into torrential rain saw it fail spectacularly today.

Where did it get in?

Front overflap/zip

Does it have the 'reverse' flap that some use? ie the piece that goes 'inside' the overlap has a turn back (if that makes sense) which helps prevent water getting as far as the zip.

If so, any chance it was kinked or folded, so not working correctly?

[Taipan]

Where did it get in?

Front overflap/zip

Does it have the 'reverse' flap that some use? ie the piece that goes 'inside' the overlap has a turn back (if that makes sense) which helps prevent water getting as far as the zip.

If so, any chance it was kinked or folded, so not working correctly?

No, just a normal flap covering the zip and press studs.

[The Spin Doctor]

Frank Thomas City Casual Waterproof Motorcycle/Scooter Jacket CE Armour
.
.
.
Riding abike with zilch weather protection at 70+ mph into torrential rain saw it fail spectacularly today. I think the best winter coat I can get for the Hyper is another sh300!

Why am I not surprised?

[Whysub]

I used to have a procession of cheap Weiss jackets, worn with jeans and whatever gloves were cheap at a show.

Then I got a job where riding was part of the job, and due to H&S, my employers were obliged to supply me with decent kit.
For a few years I wore a Rukka textile jacket, always worn with leather trousers and Daytona boots, Held/Racer/Alpinestars gloves, and Arai RX7 helmet. Replaced these every two to three years.

Went to made to measure Hideout Textile suit, which is 7 years and perhaps 80,000 miles old, and still waterproof. Also a made to measure Hideout leather two piece, which seems to have shrunk a little bit over the winter. Went from Arai to Schubeth then Neotech flip fronts for convenience (eat, drink and smoke without taking it off).

Retired, but still kept a lot of the kit I had-ideal when mates fly over and borrow a bike.

Still bought two jackets since being here, an armoured mesh one, and a lightweight AGV Adventure styled jacket, with lots of vents and pockets. I doubt it is very waterproof though.

[Noggin]

The other month I bought a jacket that until recent Summer's I never thought I would need in the UK a fully vented Rev It Tornado jacket.
https://www.ghostbikes.com/26014-rev-it ... acket.html
It has a detatchable inner liner & I've been using it on local rides to see how it handles cooler temps,so far so good.Lets see how well it works when we get another hot spell

That looks aces! I struggle in the summer over here cos it's so bastard hot. I end up using a zip up hoodie with a kevlar lining. Whilst it's good in theory I know full well that if I hit the road, it's not going to cover much except my arms and shoulders as it'll ride up And my textile jacket is like a boil-in-the-bag-biker coat in summer

But that one looks really interesting - have to see if I can find something similar over here

[Bustaspoke]

That looks aces! I struggle in the summer over here cos it's so bastard hot.
But that one looks really interesting - have to see if I can find something similar over here

Yes,I bought it for hot weather riding as my usual UK riding jackets are a bit warm when we get those rare heatwaves,obviously the heat would be more of a problem in your part of the world.On mild days in Winter it's been good with the detachable inner liner fitted.
The only negative so far is that it's quite short at the back,more noticeable on my SV650S with it's sports riding position,not as noticable on the Street Triple with a more upright riding position.
.